Biochemistry Flashcards
Is cystic fibrosis autosomal dominant?
NOPE… It’s autosomal recessive
What ethnicity does CF affect most?
White populations of northern European background
How many newborns are affected with CF?
1 in 2,500
What is the frequency of CF carriers?
1 in 25
Do heterozygotes display symptoms?
No
What is the chance of a heterozygote parenting a child with CF?
1/100
Are CF homozygotes infertile?
Yes
-But loss of the allele in the population is very slow, since most alleles exist in heterozygous carries who are unaware of their status
What type of glands and where does CF have it’s effect?
Epithelial glands in the respiratory and GI tracts
What is CF characterized by?
Excessively thick secretions
What is measured in the blood to screen newborns for CF?
Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT)
-But this isn’t 100% effective
What leads to the diagnosis of CF in children?
Recurrent respiratory tract infections and sometimes chronic malabsorption leading to failure to thirve
What % of CF patients suffer from pancreatic insufficiency?
85%
What is the basis for the most common diagnostic test for CF?
High levels of chloride in sweat forms
What is the most serious problem in CF?
Obstruction of the airways by viscous mucus in the bronchioles and colonization by bacteria
What bacteria are most commonly seen in CF?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphlyococus aureus
What does CF lead to long term?
Lung destruction (bronchiectasis)
RVH
Heart Failure
What do most patients with CF die from?
Respiratory infections
What is the result of the pancreatic ducts being obstructed by mucus in CF patients?
Deficient secretion of pancreatic enzymes and inadequate digestion of fats leading to a failure to thrive and production of smelly stools
What % of CF patients are pancreatically-sufficient?
15%
What results from the thick secretions blocking the bile ducts in the liver of CF patients?
Cirrhosis
Why are male CF patients frequently infertile?
Congenital absence of the vas defrens
Females are occasionally infertile
What is the management for CF
- Regular chest PT
- Antibiotics for chest infections
- Pancreatic enzymes and fat-soluble vitamins
- Aerosol medications to loosen secretions
What recombinant human DNAase is used in CF patients to reduce the viscosity of mucous?
Dornase (Pulmozyme)
What surgical indications may be indicated in CF?
- Surgery for SBO
2. Lung, heart-lung, and liver transplants
What SE can be seen with long term use of high-dose antibiotics?
Hearing loss